The end might be near for former Los Angeles Lakers first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht. The rotation is flush with defensive-minded players, his skill set is no longer of the most desirable nature, and his 2025-26 campaign left much to be desired. In his second 2026-27 preseason game, however, Knecht left the door open for a different story to be written.
On a night when nothing seemed to be working for the Lakers, Knecht overcame the odds to turn in a strong all-around showing in a surprisingly prominent role.
Los Angeles rested multiple players who are ahead of Knecht in the rotation, including Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, and Ziaire Williams. As such, Knecht was perhaps inevitably played more than usual.
One simply can't help but note that Knecht played the second-most minutes of any Lakers player with 22, trailing only $60 million wing Quentin Grimes at 23.
Knecht was also the only Los Angeles player who produced a positive +/- at +3. Though it is the preseason and he was admittedly playing against fringe NBA players at times, he still managed to make a positive impact on the game.
With three preseason games and just under two weeks remaining until the Lakers have to trim their roster to 15 players, Knecht seems to be making a last-ditch effort to save his place on the roster.
Dalton Knecht played the second-most minutes of any Laker vs. GSW
Knecht played fairly well during his 22 minutes, posting 11 points, an offensive rebound, and an assist. He shot just 3-of-8 from the field and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc, but got to the line and buried all four of his free throw attempts. All in all, he was far more assertive than he was in the preseason opener, when he attempted one shot in 12 minutes.
That shift to a more confident approach to scoring could prove essential to Knecht tapping into his potential and reminding skeptics of why he was the No. 17 pick.
There are still clear hurdles, of course, as Knecht will need to finally become a reliable defender if he's going to crack the Lakers' rotation. Los Angeles added two high-level offensive reserves over the summer in Sandro Mamukelashvili and Sexton, and need defense from the wings to support them.
In saying that, Knecht finding his rhythm as a shot creator during the preseason could lead to a valuable return to form as a shooter—and it's important to note that he's shot well in an NBA environment in the past.
Knecht buried 37.6 percent of his 4.4 three-point field goal attempts per game as a rookie in 2024-25. Yes, his efficiency declined in 2025-26, but at 34.2 percent as a second-year player, it's far from irrational to believe that he can right the ship.
If he does, then Knecht, who averaged 17.0 points per 36 minutes as a rookie, could stave off elimination from the Lakers' roster and defy the odds that are seemingly stacked against him.
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